The Shadow
Dear Recycle Lady,
What does one do with a cut Christmas tree once Christmas is over?
Tree Hugger
Dear Tree Hugger,
Good question. Unfortunately, there are not many choices available here for disposing of your cut Christmas tree. However, there are some good uses available. Cut trees can be used to create a safe place for birds to feed and shelter by laying it out on your property. You can also leave it standing outside and redecorate it with secured strings of popcorn, cranberries, pinecones filled with peanut butter, or other bird-friendly goodies. Branches cut from your tree can be used as mulch to give the roots of perennials and shrubs extra protection from cold weather. Cut branches can also be put in your garden to add nutrients and protection. They will help hold moisture in, help build up the soil and provide shelter for pollinators and wildlife. If you have a wood chipper or know someone with one, you could arrange for them to create mulch or compost out of your tree; some enterprising mulching operation in our area could start a nice off-season small business with this! If you live in the area where your trash is picked up by Greenbrier Valley Solid Waste, your tree will be picked up when your trash is picked up.
Dear Recycle Lady,
First, thanks for your column, which now appears weekly in The Hinton News. We have learned much about some of the specifics of what can or cannot be recycled and why. This message is about your comments in the one of your August columns concerning milk cartons. There is a site, https://www.treehugger.com/are-milk-cartons-recyclable-5112435, that provides an address where milk cartons can be sent for recycling. The closest place near us is in Chesapeake, VA. The service is free, but the sender must pay shipping. For those who can print their own labels, there are numerous services that provide shipping at reduced rates; I use “pirateship.com,” which offers lower rates than USPS or UPS. (I am not affiliated with the company).
Recycling Reader
Dear Recycling Reader,
Unfortunately, we are unable to recycle milk cartons locally, and thank you for sharing information on locations that accept milk cartons for recycling through the mail, as well as some alternative ways to ship the cartons. The Treehugger.com website also has some interesting information on the makeup of milk cartons. Previously, gable-top milk cartons that required refrigeration were made of layers of plastic, paper, and even sometimes aluminum. Today they are made of approximately 80% of paper and 20% plastic. The plastic layers are both inside and outside the carton to prevent leakage. The second type of milk cartons, aseptic cartons, are the cartons that are “shelf stable” and don’t require refrigeration. Soups, gravy, and juices often come packaged in these cartons that are made of layers of 74% paper, 22% plastic, and 4% aluminum. These boxes are often thought to be wax- coated, but wax has not been used for many years. Additionally, for those who have gardens or do crafts, the site has some interesting ways to reuse milk cartons.
Interesting Information: The octopus is an incredible multitasker. Not only can it change its color, but the texture of its skin uses specialized cells to mimic rocks, coral, and sand in seconds. According to Wikipedia, octopuses are among the most intelligent and behaviorally diverse invertebrates. They live in dens that are small holes and cervices in rocks and coral. There are approximately 300 species of octopuses that live in environments ranging from shallow coastal water to the deep seabed.
Dear Readers,
May you have a happy and prosperous New Year. My New Year’s challenge to each of you is to find one new way to rethink, recycle, reduce, repurpose or reuse items in the coming year. I would love to hear your ideas. Please send them to me, and I will pass them on. If everyone makes even a small change, the cumulative effect will be large.
Have questions about recycling or interesting information about recycling? Send questions or requests to Recyclelady7@gmail.com. Dear Recycle Lady is sponsored jointly by the Greenbrier Recycling Center and Greenworks Recycling.
